Last chance to vote

Written By: - Date published: 11:36 am, November 17th, 2014 - 67 comments
Categories: Andrew Little, david parker, grant robertson, labour, Nanaia Mahuta - Tags:

Andrew Little

Many of the authors of the Standard have expressed their opinions on who they think should be the next leader of the Labour Party.

Mike Smith chose David Parker.  Geoff supported Andrew Little as does Stephanie Rodgers and lprent.  Bill supported Nanaia Mahuta.  Ben Clark supported Grant Robertson.  Apologies if he has but I don’t think that Anthony R0bins has expressed a final opinion as yet.

I voted a while ago and I will surprise nobody by confirming that I voted Andrew Little 1 and Nanaia Mahuta 2.  The decision making process was fairly easy although Nanaia made it tougher by conducting herself in a very dignified way and by campaigning very effectively.  I was impressed by her informal campaign in 2011 with David Cunliffe and she has shown recently that this was no fluke.  There is a decency about Nanaia as well as a keen intelligence that deserves her continuing to have a senior role in the Labour Party.

Why did I vote for Andrew?

I am concerned at how Caucus has functioned over the past few years and I believe this needs to change.  Andrew impresses me as being someone who will be able to achieve this change.  His background with the EPMU and the party equip him well for what is needed to make Labour succeed.  And I have been really impressed with his performance.  He speaks with a passion and a determination that can inspire.  And he is quite unique as a politician in that his ego is small.  He is the candidate who has been in politics for the shortest period of time and the one who has the greatest potential for improvement.

My third preference went to David Parker.  My dealings with him have always been cordial and civilised.  He has a very keen mind and will be an important member of any future Labour Government.

And as a reminder …

Only Labour Party members and affiliates can vote in the election.  New members must have joined before 11.59pm Wednesday October 1 (the day after the Leadership Election was triggered).  Unfinancial members (anyone who has been a Labour Party member in the past three years and who has not paid a membership fee in 2014) must have rejoined before November 12, 2014.

Voting closes 12 noon Tuesday November 18, 2014.

If you have not received a voting form and want to update your email address you can email reception@labour.org.nz to ensure that your email address is on file.

If you have any questions, you can email the team at leadershipelection@labour.org.nz.

Edit: Bill has suggested to me that his post was a comment on who would be most able to counter the inevitable attacks from the right if all else was equal rather than a straight endorsement of Nanaia and he is right.  I missed the subtlety of what he wrote first time.  Apologies to him.

67 comments on “Last chance to vote ”

  1. Tracey 1

    according to mike williams it is a lottery.

    I cant imagine hooton publicly making a statement about a leadershop contest without tapping some shoulders and insiders in the know.

    Williams needs to stop doing the rnz spot. Today he almost did, by mainly sitting listening to hooton and ryan discuss stuff.

    • mickysavage 1.1

      You can guarantee that the right has a strategy to undermine whoever is elected as leader and it will start to be rolled out at about 5 minutes after the decision is made.

      • Skinny 1.1.1

        Considering it’s 3 years till the next election it doesn’t matter what the Right-Wing has to say about the new leader. And whoever wins needs to say very little and beaver away restructuring the party so it’s fit to fight for the next election. Things like shuffling Cosgrove and others along. The formation of an offshoot party (Labour-Maori) that can win a seat and pull enough party votes, including previous non voters to bring in 2 more seats.

        Here is a new idea that I have which should get voters infused for the next election. In certain Electorate seats a primary contest amongst Labour, Greens & NZF for the right to be sole electorate candidate to go up against the National candidate. Far too many seats National have been spoilt by previously having vote splitting, a combined strategy to ‘contest’ the seat with one main cross party endorsed candidate is the way to go.

        • ghostwhowalksnz 1.1.1.1

          Oh yes it does.

          All the good work can be undone in the public perception by a well organised tory smear machine.
          Worked for them before , likely to work again.

          Im not talking about the upfront attacks , its the behind the scene deals where so called opinion leaders are hi jacked and repeat smears from Farrar and Slater and co.

          • Skinny 1.1.1.1.1

            Really unless the Left change tactics and try new ideas we are holding out on the public to want a change of Government. New thinking on our future, however the team needs refreshing, this is the problem and is why a Left bloc is the better option.

        • Clemgeopin 1.1.1.2

          What a novel idea!
          Worth investigating as to how such a n electorate seat contest could be held and in which sort of electorates it would be worth doing and if it is worth doing at all. Need to consider the pros and cons.
          Personally I think it will be worth doing so in a few marginal/crucial seats as an experiment in MMP. I also wish that the coat-tailing is removed and the threshold reduced to 4% or even better, 3%, as it will give a fairer democratic representaton to voters, such as the Conservatives and the Internet-Mana.

          • Skinny 1.1.1.2.1

            Why thanks Clem, I ran it by one of the leader contenders who thought it was a great idea and got quite animated about the possibilities.

            Marginal seats is the obvious benefit, however it could impact on a number of not so close seats by getting new voting members for all the party’s contesting the primary. The hype of such a contest would engage the electorate. You could add a number of dimensions like the candidate that wins agrees to drop from a party list in an all or nothing approach. The coalition partners could stand (do deals) talented candidates in some electorates to ensure they win seats.

      • Tracey 1.1.2

        o lay their plans. At least little has put in writing an acknowledgement of the problem

      • mac1 1.1.3

        And for that single and inevitable reason, no matter that I voted differently from whoever, and whatever the outcome, we must be seamless in our unity behind the leadership.

        Any thing else is undemocratic, divisive and intolerable.

        But mostly, useless, and counter-productive.

      • sheryn 1.1.4

        yep

      • You can intuit plenty of that from the table DPF has copy-pasted into his latest …

        http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2014/11/assessing_the_labour_leadership_candidates.html

        (Warning: comments full of the usual sexist/homophobic/anti-left stuff)

      • Almost the same as you Micky ,however mine is in reverse .First Nanaia then Andrew. However rest asured who ever wins will have my full support I want to see a Labour Government before I fall of the perch and 83 im near the edge and we will only have victory if we are all and I mean all fully united , The old Socialist motto Divided we fall United we win go to it members we have a job ahead .

      • marie 1.1.7

        + 100

    • Chooky 1.2

      +100 Tracy…i think rnz should get rid of Hooton as well …they should have a DIFFERENT panel of EXPERTS on every week from both the Left and the Right

      …if they are talking about education lets have some real experts on

      ….at the moment we only hear Hooton’s spin…and with no effective opposition from Mike Williams or Kathryn Ryan …Williams is a Hooton Mini-Me

      ….and Hooton thinks he is the expert on everything ….from what is going on in education , employment law, unions, international matters …to what is wrong with the Greens, why they should be in coalition with Nactional …to what is wrong with Labour, leadership issues and David Cunliffe ( that went on for f..king ages), he talks up John Key with one or two exceptions on minor matters….

      …imo …the progamme is increasingly one of disinformation, spin, no real debate and dialogue or indepth analysis

      …..a monologue from Hooton…broadcast on NZ public radio …..increasingly nauseating

      ( sorry this rave should probably be on Open Mike)

      • tc 1.2.1

        Hooton and a complaint RNZ is part of the 2 track strategy so get used to him and DPF getting plenty of airtime.

        ‘….the progamme is increasingly one of disinformation, spin, no real debate and dialogue or indepth analysis…’ Yup working as designed for awhile now.

        • Tracey 1.2.1.1

          if they have to have it… get someone

          a. from the left
          b. who will speak for the left

          listening to hi., when he does pipes upi have no idea who williams might have voted for.

      • marie 1.2.2

        I think it’s going too far to call Mike Williams a Hooton mini-me but I have thought for some time that he no longer represents an effective alternative position. Of course, Radio NZ is willing to have extreme right wing views expressed on it’s shows all the time, Hooton, L’estrange-corbet, Graham Bell etc, etc,etc. However, as soon as someone like Bomber Bradbury expresses left wing views, he must be removed from the show forever. Of course, we can look forward to Paul Henry on radio and TV joining the other impartial media that are there at present, Hosking, Plunket, Smith and Garner to name just a few. If we can just encourage TV3 in their endeavour to water down that biased John Campbell our democracy will be truly safe.

  2. Atiawa 2

    I hope you are right. He also has great compassion for others and is able to see the good in us all. If your preference for Andrew is shared by the majority of eligible voters I believe we will have a worthy and able leader, capable of capturing the attention of voters.
    He will of course be attacked for not winning an electoral seat and for his union affiliations. Which may mean that he won’t enjoy much of a honeymoon, however I see that as a positive because once he gets his feet under the table he will build a momentum that will be hard to deny.

    • Jenny Kirk 2.1

      Its odd but I haven’t seen anyone attack Parker for not winning an electoral seat.
      Does this mean that List-only candidates are protected from this particular type of attack ? ?

      • Anne 2.1.1

        No, it means they consider Andrew Little to be more of a threat to the National Govt. than David Parker.

      • Atiawa 2.1.2

        Who Knows Jenny? All will be revealed within the next 48 hours. What I do know is Jonathan Young doubled his 2011 majority last election which is an obvious area for an attack by National. Oh, and Andrews mum is a known previous supporter of New Plymouth National candidates. Don’t believe they haven’t a script written for that as well. Of course John Key’s mum had the benefit of living in a state house kindly provided by a progressive caring Labour government. Surely she would have supported a Labour government during those times? There would not have been to many alternatives for her other than private rental’s, but would they have given little Johnny the security & continuity a state house provides? Unlikely.

        • ghostwhowalksnz 2.1.2.1

          Ever heard of electoral boundary changes, its also the main reason why Napier flipped.

          New Plymouth added a big chunk of rural area around to Opunake

          • Atiawa 2.1.2.1.1

            Insignificant Phantom.

            17% of employees in New Plymouth have their occupation listed as “manager”. (Per head of the nations working population the highest in NZ).
            The province is the “Energy” capital of the country and along with dairy farming is a major contributor to the countries GDP. Taranaki was the governments “good news” story.
            The fear of a Labour/Greens coalition put oil & gas exploration & dairy farming at risk.
            What do you think was the topic of conversation in smoko rooms in New Plymouth leading up to the general election and led by aspiring GM’s?

            • Anne 2.1.2.1.1.1

              I gather you haven’t been around politics for too many years Atiawa. gwwnz is correct. Boundary changes have turned many a safe Labour seat into a marginal seat at best. It has worked the other way around over the decades too, but strangely enough… not as often as Labour losing former safe or marginally Labour seats. Whether it was FPP or now under MMP, boundary changes have invariably favoured National. There have been several election outcomes in the past confirming it. 1978 and 1981 were two of the more obvious in recent decades where Labour scored significantly higher voting numbers than National yet lost the elections. I put it down to authoritarian/establishment/bureaucracy at work.

              And btw, John Key’s mother was an avid Labour supporter so it’s no big deal that Andrew Little’s mother is/was a National supporter. Perhaps there’s some portent in that for Andrew.

              The fear of a Labour/Greens coalition put oil & gas exploration & dairy farming at risk.

              Oh well, Dirty Politics worked well there didn’t it. Not too surprised.

              And btw, if you read the electoral rolls, you will find there are more managers than workers in the country. I could have sworn it was the other way around but never mind… 😉

              • Atiawa

                I’m just telling it the way it was/is Anne. I live in the electorate and have more face to face conversations with people then most.
                My post was about alerting anyone prepared to listen about the personal attacks AL as a possible new leader should be prepared for. If you believe his response should be about the unfairness of boundary changes and if they hadn’t occurred the result would have been different, then you and the Phantom are living in fantasyland .
                My Labour party credentials are derived from over fifty years of involvement. Along with my elder siblings we delivered pamphlets around the then Egmont electorate for John Sneddon & Dave V? who contested elections against sitting National party MP’s Bill Sheet & Venn Young. We carried the apple box from home for John Sneddon to stand on in the main street of Hawera on a Friday night to deliver many a sterling hustings speech. We helped fund raise for the Labour party and its candidates by selling raffle tickets door to door, holding crib and 500 evenings.
                Don’t “gather” that I haven’t been around politics for too many years.

                • Anne

                  If you believe his response should be about the unfairness of boundary changes and if they hadn’t occurred the result would have been different, then you and the Phantom are living in fantasyland

                  You’re indulging in a bit of fantasyland politics there Atiawa. Has Matthew Hooton been giving you lessons in the art of ‘distraction and spin?

                  • Atiawa

                    Am I missing something here?

                    Andrew Little will be the first to acknowledge that the boundary changes had negligible impact on his vote.
                    Here’s a straight forward exercise for you Anne. Look up the polling booths between Okato (South of the Stoney River) & Opunake. Add separately the total vote for JY & AL. Subtract AL ‘s vote from JY’s = the difference as a result of the boundary change. Then get back to me and let me know if that amounts to close to 4,000+ extra votes.

                    Good luck with the math. Your spin & distraction makes Hooton a novice at the art.

              • Murray Rawshark

                Back when prostitution was illegal, everyone who worked in massage parlours used to put their occupation down as manager. New Plymouth is probably about 40 years behind, and most of the people there are probably inflating their sense of importance. Anyone who mows lawns can call themselves a manager.

                • Ron

                  Was not aware prostitution was ever illegal. Soliciting was a crime as was living off immoral earnings but not prostitution as far as I can remember

                  Back when prostitution was illegal

                  • Murray Rawshark

                    It was an illogical legal situation, where it wasn’t a crime to sell sex, as long as you didn’t make any money off it. The undercover cops who plagued massage parlours certainly didn’t think it was legal. The funny thing about them is that they were famous for keeping their watches on in the rooms, so they never had much success.

      • Pat O'Dea 2.1.3

        Its odd but I haven’t seen anyone attack Parker for not winning an electoral seat.

        Not really…. Although David Parker is also a list MP, he is the darling of the Right.

        As if to make the point; This morning Stuff.co.nz in an extraordinary piece, has not missed ‘The last chance’ to put the boot in to Little.

        http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/63293210/Noon-showdown-for-Labour-Party

        • Pat O'Dea 2.1.3.1

          “Unwanted by New PLYMOUTH voters….”
          ‘Unwanted’

          “The two-time failed NEW PLYMOUTH candidate….”
          ‘Double failure’

          “Should Little WIN the leadership, it will be the remarkable revival of a political CAREER nearly dealt a mortal blow in September…..”
          ‘Moribund’

          “After being soundly beaten by National’s Johnathon Young…”
          ‘Beaten’

          “he only just scraped into Parliament…”
          ‘Scraped In’

          “after waiting a humiliating two weeks for the special votes to be counted…”
          ‘Humiliated’

          Dirty politics could not have succeeded without dirty journalism.

          So now that the media has got their attack line sorted, can we expect this bile to be regurgitated at us for the next three years?

    • Cave Johnson 2.2

      And so it begins – the Herald online front page this morning “Unwanted by Taranaki voters, could Andrew Little be the next Labour leader?”

      • Cave Johnson 2.2.1

        Interesting – the pissy article in the Herald appeared at 5am. It was still there at 6.40am, but I went back at 7.20am to make a comment on it, only to find the story gone.

  3. Bill 3

    Mickey, I put up a theoretical post suggesting that if we considered all things to be equal (which they aren’t), that Nanaia would be the better choice. Not entirely sure how you interpreted that post as me supporting her to be the next leader of Labour. Anyhoe…

  4. Pat O'Dea 4

    Biology and politics may have something in common.

    Gause’s law, is a proposition that states that two species competing for the same resource cannot coexist at constant population values, if other ecological factors remain constant. When one species has even the slightest advantage or edge over another then the one with the advantage will dominate in the long term.

    Competitive exclusion principle (biology)
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Competitive_exclusion_principle

    The feuding over the past two years inside the Labour Party are proof positive that two distinct idealogical streams cannot exist in the same political party (niche) one or the other will become dominant.

    Which ever personality wins the leadership, will we be able to determine which species will have dominence inside the Labour Party for the medium to long term?

    Can David Parker and David Cunliffe both hold senior roles in same shadow cabinet?

    unlikely

    So whoever is demoted between these two, will give a clue to which faction has dominance.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 4.1

      What a load of rubbish.

      • Pat O'Dea 4.1.1

        All I am saying is that if Parker is in the shadow cabinet and Cunliffe is completely out, this will represent total accross the board victory for the ABC faction.

        I suppose the question is, will this result put an end to the factional infighting.

        • Ron 4.1.1.1

          I still think DC will depart sometime in next year. The party has made it pretty plain they don’t want him so why kick against the pricks, to quote scripture.

  5. Chooky 5

    I personally think Mahuta has it in her to be a great Labour Prime Minister!

    …and I think she would be a winner for Labour because of who she is and her ability to appeal to women and the old traditional Labour voter…now often unemployed or on zero contracts and struggling

    …..however I would be happy with Little as leader ( and Mahuta as a co-leader…this would really sock it to John Key and Nactional…they could only muster Bennett as a co- leader …or Collins)

    • Kiwiri - Raided of the Last Shark 5.1

      I did a quick search for the year the candidates were born. Quite revealing.

      ‘New generation’ Grant is a year younger than Nanaia (welcome aboard, Nanaia).

      And Grant is only six years younger than Andrew Little, and about eleven years younger than David Parker.

  6. b waghorn 6

    Another plus for little in my view is his name has popped up quietly as a future labour leader from time to time for at least 4 or 5 years and if I’ve noticed it I’m sure plenty of others have

  7. millsy 7

    It needs to be remembered though, regardless of who wins tomorrow, the next election will be won or lost at the new leader’s first Parliament question time.

    • KJS0ne 7.1

      I hope that’s firmly tongue in cheek.

      • millsy 7.1.1

        No. It is serious. The new leader needs to do well in Question Time first off. If he/she fluffs its, then John Key will capitalise. It’s like a one day cricket match. You lose 2 or 3 wickets in the first over then you will struggle throughout the match. Especially against an opponent with a good track record.

        • Liberal Realist 7.1.1.1

          Bang on! The MSM vultures will be circling the house.

          Should the new leader screw up an any way (I mean ANY) you watch the narrative framing commence.

  8. alwyn 8

    If one is to believe Ipredict it is all over.
    They currently have Little at 0.87, and rising, Robertson at 0.13 (falling), Parker at 0.01 (falling) and no sign of Mahuta at all.
    When will the official result be announced, and the payout made?

    • Phil 8.1

      f one is to believe Ipredict it is all over.
      They currently have Little at 0.87, and rising

      No-one should be surprised by this. The caucus hasn’t coalesced around a single contender, the membership appears equally split, while the Unions are backing their man.

      • Colonial Rawshark 8.1.1

        I think the results tomorrow will show that the members are definitely not equally split. My pick – that there are two quite strong contenders that the membership favours ~neck and neck. And two noticeably weaker contenders.

        • weka 8.1.1.1

          Is that Little and Robertson as the strong contenders?

          • Colonial Rawshark 8.1.1.1.1

            I reckon so, although in my heart I’d love the top two membership picks to be AL and NM.

        • alwyn 8.1.1.2

          You deserve to be congratulated for this prediction.
          Absolutely spot on as far as the results went. I believe the horse-racing parlance is that Little got there “on the nod”.
          Would you like to tell me Saturday’s winning Lotto numbers?

  9. Tracey 9

    i note on rnz nine to noon when ryan describes ipredict as hootons he never corrects her. is he back financially interested?

  10. Brownie 10

    Sorry to ask this question but can you really see a statesmen like PM in the four contenders. I think we are in real trouble for 2017 and everyone seems in denial . The Labour vote was lost by working man and to quote Shane Jones a gaggle of unionists and gays won’t get them back.

    • Chooky 10.1

      well Shane Jones was hardly “statesmen like”!…and nor is Key ( he is only PM because of the dirty tricks and spinners and an acquiescent msm )

      …and yes I can see both Mahuta and Little being a statesmen like Prime Minister for New Zealand

    • Jenny Kirk 10.2

      You’ve misquoted Brownie – those are Damien O’Connors words

  11. AmaKiwi 11

    The NZ Herald endorses Grant Robertson.

    Sorry, Grant. With that endorsement I’ll have to put you at #4.

  12. paddy 12

    If Grant Robertson wins then its all over Rover. We would be in permanent opposition. Little is the only candidate who gives us a decent chance in 2017.

  13. northshoreguynz 13

    1. Little, seems like the only one who can sort out the caucus, and unite the broader left.
    2. Mahuta, mana
    3.Parker, too dry
    4. Robertson, a career rat

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Tuesday, March 19:Kāinga Ora’s dry rot The Spinoff DailyBill McKibben on ‘Climate Superfunds’ making Big Oil pay for climate damage The Crucial YearsPreston Mui on returning to 1980s-style productivity growth NoahpinionAndy Boenau on NIMBYs needing unusual bedfellows Urbanism SpeakeasyNed Resnikoff's case ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 hour ago
  • Relentlessly negative
    Negative yesterday, negative today. Negative all year, according to one departing reader telling me I’ve grown strident and predictable. Fair enough. If it’s any help, every time I go to write about a certain topic that begins with C and ends with arrrrs, I do brace myself and ask: Again? Are ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 hours ago
  • Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    Bryce Edwards writes –  It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 hours ago
  • Promiscuous Empathy: Chris Trotter Replies To His Critics.
    Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played. “Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
    3 hours ago
  • Don’t run your business like a criminal enterprise
    The Detail this morning highlights the police's asset forfeiture case against convicted business criminal Ron Salter, who stands to have his business confiscated for systemic violations of health and safety law. Business are crying foul - but not for the reason you'd think. Instead of opposing the post-conviction punishment and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 hours ago
  • Misremembering Justinian’s Taxes.
    Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I - Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
    3 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 hours ago
  • Bishop scores headlines with crackdown on unwelcome tenants – but Peters scores, too, as tub-thump...
    Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 hours ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    8 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    8 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    8 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    9 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    10 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    11 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    13 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    1 day ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    2 days ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-19T05:49:51+00:00